1.

'priOTiSTn
of

Ashin

Janakabhivamsa

W f

/'t
The

phorisms
of

Ashin

J anakabhivamsa

>
Publishedwith permissionfrom Mahagandayone Monastery,Myanmar
for free distribution by
Sukhi Hotu Sdn Bhd

42V Jalan Matang Kuching

11500 Air Itam, Penang, MALAYSIA
T. 6 04 8277118 P. 6 04-8277228 E. Sukhihotu@pd.jaring.my

Petalingjaya Branch;

11A Jalan SS24/8. Tkman Megah, 47301 Petalingjaya. Selangor. MALAYSIA

T. 6 03 78062833 P. 6 03 78062733

7^
JUST STUPID

As long as Omniscient Knowledge

has not been attained,

people in the world are just stupid.

WISDOM

One could have never before,

throughout Samsara

gained the kind of wisdom

that one could get
after the Buddha had appeared

UNAFRAID

No being is afraid
until it gets into trouble.

NONE CAN HELP

No point telling others

about a trouble

that they can't help to solve.

NO GUARANTEE

So long

as you have not yet acquired

the states of moral purity,

there is no guarantee

that you have got the right belief

for your journey
m

in the cycle of existences.

BASE AND MEAN

Some religionists

have contempt for other's religion.

This is base and mean.

ALL ARE FOOLS

All people are fools

so long as

they encourage materialism

to flourish in this world.

W
RELIGIONIST, BEWARE!

Religionist, beware!
Science will reject anything
that does not conform to reason,

anything that is
not according to cause and effect.

l^- V

TRANSITORY LIFE

Don't look only to your situation

in this transitory life;
look to the series of existences

you have gone through.

DON'T

BE

LISTLESS

People are born, grow up and die

in a listless manner.

In fact,

they should prepare themselves

for old age, sickness and death
after they have acquired
the necessities of life.

WORK EARNESTLY

Some people
want to acquire the Dhamma

without working earnestly for it.

M
INSIGHT MEDITATION

Insight meditation
requires constant practice
or the meditator

will be just the same

as any other person.

DON'T AIM TOO HIGH

People are not satisfied

with their own position in life

and are always aiming too high.

HEED THE BUDDHA'S WORDS

The Buddha cannot save you

if you take shelter in this Sasana

without heeding His words.

ONE WHO DESERVES RESPECT

The person who deserves respect

ought to have the qualities of
Sila (morality), Samadhi (Concentration)
and Pafina (Wisdom).

SERENITY

Serenity, or concentration,
is of great value.
Discovery of the atom

is due to concentrated effort.

CHARITY FOR BIRTHDAY

If you want to do some

meritorious deed for your birthday,
you should be doing it always.
For you are born and you die
every moment.

LIFE

SPAN

Life span is not short

because of living a good life,
nor is it longer
by living in dissipation.

GOOD EFFECT AND BAD EFFECT

Good effects

takes time to appear

whereas bad effects
are often instant.

MISERY

If you can see the misery

of the present existence

you will want no more existences.

NIHILISM

It is owing to the doctrine

that death is the ultimate

and that Immorality

flourishes in the world.

USELESS

WORLD

In the useless world where there are

only useless people living a useless life,

do you think there will be any good
improvement for no reason.
If there is any good in the world,
it is due to good morals
without which nothing good
can possible result.

m.

EQUALITY

In this world

there is luxury in one place,

famine in another,

a war in yet another.

Is there anything like equality?

ffl

K'

HELP

IN

AN

EMERGENCY

People ask others

to do for their good,
but when others need help,
they won't give it.

W
i

PEOPLE'S

HABIT

In this world

people have the habit

of getting the better of others
and scorning and condemning them.

SNOBBERY

If you get the better

of the other person,
people will side with you,
but if they get the better of you,
they will change sides.
That's natural.

T7
DON'T BE

SHORT-SIGHTED

People only consider

their own benefit and welfare.

As for others' benefit and welfare,

they are short-sighted.

GOOD

MOTIVE

If one speaks and acts

without a good motive,
all one's speech and acts
will be just as bad.

OUTSTANDING

If you want to stand out

from the common people,
don't do

what they are doing.

REAL GOOD

PEOPLE

In this world

there are real good men and women.

They are noble, intelligent and
courageous.

NO SAMSARA

Just subtract

(ignorance) and tanha (craving)

from one life;
then there won't be
any more samsara

(cycle of birth and death).

KEY POSITION

Human existence

is the key position;

you can work for moral purity

to achieve celestial existences
and even nibbana.

SACRIFICE SMALLER GAIN

Lobha (greed) increases;

if you can expect
a gain of thousand,

you will forgo the hundred.

Naturally if you want to achieve
a greater gain, you must sacrifice
a smaller gain.

DUKKHA

If you are afraid of

dukkha,

face up to it.

THE

LONG

ROAD

If you take a long run,

the Buddha's word will not be in vain.

Thke the long road

as long as you can.
Take long to practise the Dhamma.

ADORATION

Concentrate your attention

upon the Buddha;

it is like living with the Buddha.

rv

BUDDHA'S ADMONITION

If you deeply adore the Buddha,

you will faithfully
follow his admonition.

WORLDLY SUCCESSES

When those who take great pains

to achieve worldly successes
have reached their goal,

they revel in the pleasures

their successes have afforded them

DON'T TROUBLE OTHERS

Living under
comfortable circumstances,

one should not do anything

that will cause others
to be immoral.

FAME AND WEALTH

Fame and wealth

are after all nothing.

When you die

you have to depend on

sila (precept), samadhi (stability)
and panna (wisdom)

P'

PRACTICAL SOLIDARIiy

Inter-racial marriages
among peoples of
Upper Myanmar, Lower Myanmar,
hilly areas and the plains
are necessary for practical solidarity.

 W"

W:^
WHAT AM 1?

What kind of person am I?

I ought to be the person
for whom I myself have a high opinion.
I can lie to others, but I can't lie to myself,
i
Everyone should try
to become the one

whom he himself has a high regard.

DO MORE

If someone offers you

one kyat,

you must do something

worth two kyats.

WAR AND PEACE

Foolish leaders of the world

have been expecting to get peace

only through war.

That's why they are building up

their power with soldiers and weapons,

and at the same time

talking glibly about peace.

.Mm

COMPETITION

Competition

is not always good.

The world can be ruined

by competition.

P.
CLASS EQUITY

If one looks from upper class,

one can see lower class;

if, on the other hand,

one looks up from down under

one cannot possible see the upper area.

'r
UPPER AND

LOWER

In this world,

when one gets to upper class,

one holds those in lower classes

with contempt.
People of lower classes usually have
envy and jealousy

LET THE

BIG

MIND

ENTER

People say that

one is arrogant (big-minded)
if one wears a stern face,

scolding this and that person;

or despite being bribed or because of
power one behaves snobbishly.

If'
m

ai

That is not big-mindedness.

That's a little mind intruding
to lower the status of existence in

samsara (cycle of birth and death).

Don't you let the little mind intrude!

DEATH IS

INEVITABLE BE CAREFUL

In this world

there are hell, animals, ghosts,

fools and the destitute.
Death is inevitable.
Be careful.

WORLD LEADERS

Look at those people

who are called world leaders.

Scientists invent strange weapons.

Capitalists buy and sell weapons.
Those in power
never cease giving orders to kill.

fir

WOMEN

In human world,

women are very clever.

If there are no women in the world,

life will be cold and dreary.

It would even be difficult
for the would-be Buddha

to appear on the scene.

DON'T POINT YOUR FINGER AT OTHERS

People point the index finger

at others but not at themselves.

When you point one finger at others

four fingers are pointing back at you.

7 n
LOOK AFTER YOUR

PARENTS

Instead of weeping
when your parents are dead,
you should look after them well
when they are alive.

rj
m

MAKING

GOOD AND CLEVER KIDS

Children become dull

because their mothers become busy.

To make good and clever kids
of tomorrow,

would-be mothers should only

work about half as much as their men.

PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

The Dhamma is such that

one will benefit

only if one practises according to it.

Otherwise one will be like a ladle

[that has contact with food

but cannot relish its flavour].

Cemetery workers see corpses;

doctors are familiar with the 32 parts of

the body;

but that's just superficial seeing and

knowing.

RELATIONSHIPS

It is more difficult

to relate with a revered person

than with a person
whom one does not respect
[because of the
kammic consequences].

DON'T MISUSE

Bhikkhus

should not misuse

the laymen's offer

of the essential materials
and thus commit an ill-deed.

WISDOM AND FAME

It is more difficult
to achieve wisdom

than to acquire fame and influence.

PATH

OF MISERY

People are talking of trouble,

but they are walking
the path of misery.
So the trouble-infested one
will meet with trouble

in the midst of troubles.

NOBLE MIND

One who has a noble mind

should leave the human society

after dealing with people

according to human moral code.

/'t

*
Wm

SLAVES OF DESIRES

People have been slaves to desires

ifci

while they are alive.

It isn't good to be candidates for hell
when dead.

ii *1

a' V.
EARN PEOPLE'S RESPECT

In this world,

people love you

if you are generous;
they respect you

if you are well-behaved,

and revere you

if you have wisdom.

GAIN MERIT

Commercialists carry on their trade

to gain profit.

Those who enter the Holy Order

should work to gain merit.
Do noble needs

so that there is no loss.

mm-

LIGHT AND DARKNESS

One who comes out of the dark

and is going into darkness,

one who comes out of light
and is going into darkness,
one who comes out of darkness

and is going into light.

/
and one who comes out of light
and is going into light;
these are the four kinds of men.

Try to become the man who comes

from light and goes into light.

FORESIGHT

When one gains wisdom,

one becomes courageous.

Before wisdom is gained, one may be

rather rough, but with wisdom gained,

one comes to have foresight.

TWO PATHS

If you believe in the next existence,

you should know what you should do

and what you shouldn't.
If you don't believe,

then do what you will.

Yet if you have to choose

between these two paths,

follow the right one.

PARAMI

It is not easy
to work for achievement of

Parami (potentials).
Although others
contribute their efforts for it,

you will get as your share

as much as you earn it.

CULTURE

If we conduct ourselves

in accordance with Buddhist Culture,

we will keep abreast
of advanced countries.

STATUS

The status of laymen

can be gauged

by their standard of living;

but the monks have to live

on other's Charity.

f-tfr ^

CARELESSNESS

Anyone who lives his life carelessly

will have his mind

leaning toward evil

and he will always be

exposed to ill fate.

IGNORANCE

Ignorance is worse than poverty.

It is worse than

not practising the Dhamma.

But disbelief is

worse than non-practice.

HAPPINESS

Sukha (happiness)
does not beget another Sukha.
It can be achieved

only by facing to
Dukkha (unhappiness).

NO HIDEAWAY

In this world

there is no hideaway for evil.

When a thing rots

it will surely become apparent

SASANA

Sasana (Buddha's teachings)

will be respected by layman
only if the monks respect it
and if it is respected by all Buddhist,
it will be respected by Non-Buddhists.

VALUE OF LIFE

People can't set value to their lives;

so they speak, do and live carelessly.
That is why

they have to lead ordinary lives.

mi

w /

EXISTENCE

Every being enjoys

his own existence.

MAKE GOOD

EFFORTS

If you want to obtain good results

make good efforts.
People want to enjoy benefits
without trying.

MOST IMPORTANT

To every being,

his own affairs are most urgent

and important.

WORK FOR OTHERS

If you don't work

for other's interests,

you won't have any benefit

for yourself.

MENDACITY

In this mendacious world,

people are using their lips

to utter boastful words.

Lip service will not produce solid work.

TO BE REBORN A HUMAN BEING

Few people are reborn as human beings.

Having become a human being
it is difficult to encounter

the Buddha's teaching.

Having encountered the Buddha's

teaching it is rare to become a true
Buddhist devotee.

/
EXISTENCE AND DEATH

There is nothing strange,

everything under the sun
comes into existence

and everything dies.

WHAT IS CHERISHED IS SUFFERING

What one cherishes nrost

gives one the most suffering.

One cherished object, one suffering;
many cherished objects,
many sufferings;
no cherished object,

no more sufferingbear this in mind.

VALUE

If a person's value is
in his grave,
then there is not much
to reckon with.

CONTEMPT

If you are educated,

or wealthy or handsome,
don't treat others with contempt.

CHARACTER

Don't let other know your character.

It is for you to know
if your character is good or bad.

>

TRY TO ACHIEVE NGRMALITV

In this world,

it is difficult enough

to live up to a normal standard

of living.
Don't think of rising above it.

OPPORTUNITY

Opportunity that comes to you is not

for your enjoyment,
it is for your progress.
(OR)

When an opportunity comes to you it is

not for your enjoyment,
it is for your progress.

n.

NO EQUALITY

W'

Men are equal

but there is no equality
in talent and ability.

%
a

A
OBJECTIVE

Everybody must have

his own objective.

DON'T BE

LATE

Except for dying,

it's not good to be late in eating,

in going.

DON'T DO AS you PLEASE

Every being feels happy

and thinks very much
of what he has done

when he does what he wants to do.

MEASURING THINGS

Everybody measures things with the

yardstick of his views.

>

iip:. c :

LIBERAL OUTLOOK

People are generally liberal

in their outlook of secular matters

but they are not in religious matter.

ARE you LUCKY?

Determine whether you are

lucky or not

>

by examining your personality,

wealth, intelligence
and social status.

TEARS ON DEATH-BED

However great one may be,

it is not good for him to shed tears
on death-bed.

GOODNESS

If you do good,
you will be good.
That's natural.

WORK

If you want to be pretty,

do your work well.

LOVE

Loving others is in fact

loving yourself.

W'
'

INJUSTICE

In this world of injustice,

there is injustice after injustice.
It is difficult for one to conduct

one's life justly.

THINK

SERIOUSLY

Now think about this.

Death comes

to the old and the young alike.

So what shall we do?

Think about this seriously.

ji

RELIGIOUS

FAMES

If you don't have enough intelligence,

you will probably be exposed to
religious fames even in such clean and
clear religion as Buddhism.

BAD SIGN

Courts, entertainment places

and liquor shops being crowded is a

bad sign of the times.

WISDOM

For progress in the world

wisdom is the chief factor.

1
OPPRESSION

People usually oppress others

when they get the upperhand.

/'i
IGNORANCE

In this world

one is likely to commit mistakes

because of ignorance.

PROFICIENCY

If you want to make headway in life,

try to become proficient
in accord with your age.

ACTING ACCORDINGLY

Sometimes it may not be advisable

to act according to the time.
People will have to suffer the
consequences of bad times.

MODERATION

If you are too soft,

you may be insulted.
If you are too tough,
you may make many enemies,
it is better to behave moderately

DON'T LET THEM HATE

Even if those around you

don't love you,
let them not hate you.

BENEFIT

m'

You cannot gain any benefit

from doing useless work.

..

FAMILY FEED

In this world

one may be highly educated,

very wealthy or holding high office;

nonetheless it's all in order
to feed the wife and children.

PROGRESS

Worldly progress is meant only

for enjoying the benefits
of the progress.

,1^

CONTEMPT

In this world,

people tend to hold others

in contempt
against their own skills.

Lc A

"

>

CUSTOMS AND CULTURE

You can acquire culture

from parents and teachers

and their writings.

It cannot be acquired only from

customs and traditions.

mf-

:
EDUCATION

Education exists not only in literature,

but also in any art or craft
by which to earn a living.

pv.

I
KNOWLEDGE

Whatever art or knowledge it may be,

it must be acquired at an early age.
Otherwise, there will be a difference
in status between

the educated and the uneducated.

BUDDHA

If anyone asked me
who is the greatest person
in this world;

I would say the "Buddha".

SELF-CONCEIT

If you are self-conceited

you will be earning
others' contempt.

ABOVE THEIR HEADS

People often don't believe

in what others know because
it is above their heads.

They think that it is not true.

WEALTH AND PRIDE

In this world people are proud

as much as they are wealthy.

INTERFERENCE

In this world,

some people are trying to interfere

in affairs not their own.

RESPONSIBILITY

No benefit will accrue from

two or three persons

shouldering the responsibility

that one man can bear.

*1

HEALTH

The end of food and nutrition

lies in good health.

GETTING ON

People think that one gets on well only

when one wins a lottery ticket or has

good business. However, if one can

contemplate upon the natural
phenomena and purify one's mind,
one gets on very well indeed.

>

LESS DESIRE, MORE HAPPINESS

It is not that one has happiness

if one is in a good position materially;

it is only when one has less desires

and anger, one attains happiness.

GOOD TURN

If you do a good turn,

you will naturally get thanks.

DON'T INDULGE IN PLEASURES

You should have fun and games

only during your leisure time.

THOUGHTS

Bad thoughts occur spontaneously.

Good thoughts occur only
when the mind is alert.

It is always good to be on the alert.

bii'

NOT

EASY

If you really want to work in this world,

there is no work as easy as
eating and drinking.

BEING

ELDERLY

People take pride in what they have

done when young.
If they cannot take such pride,
they take pride on being elderly.

LUNATICS

"All men are lunatics"

is a saying which encourages people

to do all foolish acts.

PERSEVERANCE

In doing any work, first,

you must have general knowledge,
second, you must be mentally active,
third, you must choose right from
wrong; finally, you must have
perseverance.

/f

GOODNESS

Goodness is apparent
when compared with badness,
just as beauty is when compared
with ugliness.

mw*

PRESTIGE

In this world it is more difficult

to keep one's prestige than

to achieve it.

/
DRIFTING DOWN

Like the man who makes an effort to

row downstream a boat which has

been drifting down, some of today's

members of the Buddha's holy order
are creating the wrong impression
which pushes down the boat of the
Buddha's teachings.

SASANA

Our Sasana (Buddha's teachings) is like

a large boat with full sail and all at oars

down the stream with a wind

blowing downstream.

RETINUE

There is no lacking of retinue for the

wealthy, the educated
or the high-ranking officer
whereas there is no one

to come near the poor,

the uneducated or the lower class.

DESIRES

In the world of desire, Kamaguna*

desires are the most important factors.

K

'All sensual pleasures, the sensual pleasures enjoyed

by way of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch.

-r
PRAYING

People are merely praying

when there is a clear path to Nibbana.

PRAYING

If mere praying will do,

then all in the world
will become Buddhas.

RELATIVES

In the cycle of existences (Samsara)

relatives are of no account;

being of noble morality

is the only thing
that is of value.

PRAYER

Prayer is not essential;

practice is.

r.

7
KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE

In the scope of the Buddha's teachings

there are as many things to note as
there are many things to practise.

THE THREE

Sasana is the Buddha's teaching

and admonitions.

They are Sila (precepts),

Samadhi (mental stability) and
Parma (wisdom);
these three are to achieve.

SPIRITUAL HAPPINESS

If you do not mend your ways

with a view to spiritual happiness,
your doings are all a sham.

..M

MISERIES

Only if you see the miseries of

living this life,

you will not want to have

the next life.

' /"i
LISTLESS LIFE

If you are asked to show the man

who is leading a listless life,

you should show the one

who neglects in meritorious work.

BEHAVE WELL

As a Buddhist monk,

you should do the work of a Buddhist

monk and behave as such so that you

will lead a good life and die an

honourable death. Then you will have a

good gain along the cycle of rebirths.

LIFE IS SHORT

Compared with the endless cycle of

existences, one life is very short,
just a moment.

Don't (you) look to the good of one life,

look to the good of your lives in the
cycle of existences.

i
ft
MATERIAL PROGRESS

Man usually tries to improve the

material side of existence;

he doesn't recognise the importance of

the mental aspect.

That's why people are always looking

to material progress.

ir

PREACHING AND PRACTICE

Preachers preach the good results of

charity, precepts and meditation,
and the audience listen to the sermons.

But they don't get down to practice;

they are merely preaching and
listening.

WORK

You cannot achieve the ultimate state

of moral purity by praying.

You must work for the achievement.

TRY TO QUALIFY FOR PARAMI

Both monks and laypersons cannot boil

and eat the seeds of charity, moral
virtue and meditation obtainable within

the Sasana. You can only work

[perform meritorious deeds] to qualify
for paramis and try to make progress.

DEEDS AND RESULTS

Kamma is just a term of

encouragement.

In fact, if you do good,

good will result;
if you do bad,
bad will result.

DON'T BE

CONCEITED

In this realm of sentient beings,

there are many beings superior
to oneself.

.w

TARGET

Our body is a target

which is being hit by
birth,

old age,
disease

and death.

LOOK TO FUTURE

It is not fair and just

to work for the good of the present

without having any regard
for the future existences.

PLAN FROM A

SAMSARIC PERSPECTIVE

If you work with samsaric

far-sightedness,
the short-term benefits for this life

are already covered.

youANIMAL

If you are forgetful

of doing meritorious deed,
you will be the same as an animal.

MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL

Progress in the material world

causes regression

in the spiritual world.

..E^

32 AGGREGATES

It is better to contemplate
upon the condition of the thirty-two
aggregates of your body
than to look at the surface.

THE

BLIND

The blind

cannot tell the right path

from the wrong path.

MEAN AND

BASE

If you have a mean outlook

and do base deeds,
you will be mean and base.

4
NOBLE OUTLOOK

If you have a noble outlook

and do a noble deed,

you will make a noble achievement.

DON'T COVET

In the Holy Order

you should work for the good

of the order;

don't covet anything.

CONTEMPLATION, DISSEMINATION,
MEDITATION

First, contemplate upon

the attributes of the Buddha

so that you will adore the

Buddha increasingly.
Then disseminate loving-kindness
for the welfare of all beings.

Then only start the

insight meditation
by contemplating the
impermanence of ail things.

THE CODE OF THE ORDER

If you do anything in contravention

of the Code of the Order,

everything will go away.

IMAGES AND IDOLS

Images and idols of the Buddha

are just imitations of the physique

of the Buddha.

THE REAL INTENTION

Myanmar sculptures make the

Buddha's images in Myanmar style,
so do Chinese and Indian sculptures in

their own styles. The real intention is to

make people think of the Buddha and

adore Him all the more.

DEATH

Death is not a strange thing.

It is just the end of a life defined by
one [type of] kamma.

STABLE MIND

If you do meditation you will attain

stability of mind.

Only when the mind is stable

can you get rid of
desires and passions.

wm

r /
A

r
INSIGHT MEDITATION

If you do insight meditation,

you will gain wisdom.
If you have developed wisdom
you will be able to remove aviy'a
(ignorance).

VISUALIZE FUTURE

You should look both to the

present and the future.

If you cannot visualise the
future that is not visible,

you will be blind in one eye.

It is necessary to acquire knowledge.

STABLE MIND

A Stable mind can be acquired

not only in meditation

but also in religious education

as well as in other secular pursuits.

i
RELIGION

The poor
mistake religion
as the refuge
of the upper classes.

s.

NO

PERSONAL

PROPERTY

Religion is not anyone's

personal property;
it is a common property.

SET
\

RIGHT PATH

It is important to develop
one's intelligence
and get on the right path
through religion.

PRACTICAL BUDDHISM

In Buddhism there are practical

methods of practice.

CONSTANT FLUX

Samsara, or the cycle of rebirths,

does not mean merely
rebirth after death;

it indicates the constant flux and

change of all phenomena,

physical and mental.

CHEERFULNESS

If you are not concerned

with old age, disease, and death,
you will not cease to be cheerful.

i
rff

MAN AND ANIMAL

Naturally, man has more benefit

from good deeds than animals;
and in the case of doing bad deeds,
man surpasses animals.

SELF-LOVE

It is true that man loves himself more

than he loves others. His close relations

and members of his family may not

have been intimately associated in
previous existences, but he "1" (self)

has been with him all along the cycle of

existences.

\.

in.'

f
MAN OF MORALS

A man of high morals

performs his duties
as a human being while
he is alive;
and leaves the world

with courage.

^4

Wf

-A
MINING METALS

It is like mining precious metals with

:A

food and clothing provided. You will get

precious metals if you mine them. But
the stages who do not know the value

of gems will hanker after grass only.

LEGACY

What the parents give their children as

legacy will do good to them only for
this life. If the parents give them as
legacy the teachings of the Buddha,
that will do good to them throughout
the Samsara.

PARAMI

Prayer alone will not do to attain the state

of nibbana. You must work to build parami
(potentials):
Donation Morality Renunciation
Wisdom Effort Forbearance Truth

Resolution Loving-Kindness Equanimity

- if,

..

SINKING WHILE BEING

ROWED

Our Sasana is like a boat that is sinking

while it is being rowed. Why? Although
devotees offer the Four Requisites to
monks and the monks are learning and
teaching the Dhamma, there is just no
increase in faith, moral virtue and wisdom.

/ "
BUDDHIST MONKS

BEHAVE WELL

Buddhist monk who do not behave

properly and live loosely, will be held in

contempt by foreigners and modern
young intellectual. Devotees will also
lose confidence in them. The monk will

suffer from disgrace, and when they

die, they will go to Hell.

MISCONCEPTION

People put the blame on Kamma.

They believe that good fortune \A/ill
come when Kamma is on the rise;

that they will meet with failure and

misfortune when their Kamma is down.

They are labouring under this

misconception.

/i

There is also a saying to the effect that

one should not depend entirely
on one's Kamma\

if one treads on a heap of thistle

one will have one's leg pricked.

1
fif
KAMMA

Kamma is the deed done with good or

bad intention. So long as one has not

got rid of ignorance and desires, the

consequences of Kamma will not fade
out. Like the ember covered with ashes,

these consequences will flare up when

the occasion arises.

.4

"V

NEW PATH-BEATEN TRACK

People cannot strike a new path;

they follow the beaten track.

THEY COVER

REAL BUDDHA

Images and idols lay a cover over

the real Buddha;

preachers' preaching cover up

4
i

the real Dhamma;

bogus monks cover up

the real Sangha.

LOVE, ESTEEM AND RESPECT

In this world, people love the one

who gives charity;
hold in high esteem the one
who has morality,
respect the one who has wisdom.


LISTLESS

PEOPLE

Listless people's thoughts

are directed toward evil deeds;
and the chances of unwholesome
consequences

are always with such people.

NO "SELF"

People are striving for the benefit

of their selves,

but there is really no "self"

in this world.

^ d#

&
CYCLE OF EXISTENCE

You may be able to look forward

to the next day, but you cannot

possibly look forward

to one's entire life

in the cycle of existences..

REAL WORK

The real work of a man's life

lies in one's potentials of

moral purity and a good mind;

whatever prestige or good position,

follows counts for nothing.

PATH OF GREED, ANGER AND MISERY

Today people of the world

are tracking the path of development
of greed, anger and misery.
They are not able to see the path
that leads to

peace and happiness.

I
DO IT REGULARLY

Just as you take your meals

at regular hours,

so also you should do insight

meditation regularly.

DEFEATIST MOTIVE

People do not care to put up a struggle

against the situations cropping up,
but they think of accepting them
with defeatist motive.

THE GOLD POT

People think only charity

is a pot of gold.

In fact, morality, mental stability and

wisdom are also gold pots.
They are as rich as charity.

GOOD LUCK AND GOOD DEED

Don't wait for good luck;

make good luck by doing good deeds.

ULTIMATELY MORAL PURITY

Since you can't see how your mental

process works, you cannot possibly see

the state of ultimate moral purity

(nibbana), which is outside oneself,

through one's ordinary intelligence and

contemplation.

!P

PRACTICE THE DHAMMA

The Dhamma

that is preached and attended to

is not effective;

only practice of Dhamnaa

could be efficacious.

TEACHING

IS

NOBLE

Just as the one who provides others

with food and water will never starve

or go thirsty, so also the one who

teaches others so that they may be

wise and polite will never attain an

inferior position throughout

the cycle of existences.
)

SASANA NOT TO FADE OUT

The teachings (Sasana) of the Buddha

who had endeavoured to attain

Buddhahood for four eons should not

fade out after only 2500 years.
The members of the order should strive
to maintain the Sasana with the help
of the laity.

LOST DAY

The day in which meritorious deeds,

wealth, health, education, power and

position, or at least one of them
cannot be achieved,

is a lost day to be regretted.

It is a sort of death while being alive.

BEHAVE WELL

Behave well so that, first,

people have a high esteem for you,

second, celestial beings, devas have
esteem for you, and

third, you have esteem for yourself.

-'Qp

.jr;
^1^- ^

DON'T LET YOURSELF SINK

j

It is said that people love themselves most.

In fact, ifyou love yourself, you must try

your best to improve yourself.

Ifyou allow yourself to be submerged in

*Lobha, dosa and moha, you cannot claim
that you love yourself;
you are really letting yourself sink.
*Iobha~greed, dosa-anger, moha-ignorance

SIN

IS A

SIN

If you commit a sin

under the pretext that it is
a traditional practice,
it is still a sin.

WORLD OF CRAVING

In the world that Craving started,

people are behaving just to display
Craving's appearance,

just for the proliferation of Craving.

Now if Craving were to be removed,
this world would not be worth

living in anymore.

THEY AND WE

. If they are rich in gold,

we are rich in

morality (si7a);

if they are rich in silver,

we are rich in

mental stability {samadhiy.

if they are rich in diamonds;

we are rich in mindfulness {bhavana).

SELECT THE BEST COURSE

One cannot possibly achieve

improvenaent and progress

merely by knowing about things;
one must select the best course

and pursue it.

NATURAL

It is natural that good deeds

produce good results.

ONE-MAN SHOW

Any one-man show

will be affected

by the absence of that

one man.

OPPORTUNITY

Opportunity is not for enjoyment;

it is for progress.

THE IGNORANT ONE

People who cannot grasp

the meaning of what a person
is doing

often say that he is doing

the wrong thing.

t;

NO

BENEFIT

If you do anything that is of

no benefit,

you will not gain any benefit.

h
w

KNOW YOUR OWN

FAULTS

Don't look at other's fault;

know your own.

^^1

SELF-CONCEIT

If you are self-conceited,

others will hold you in contempt.

If

COOPERATIVE EFFORT

One cannot achieve anything

only by one's ability;

only cooperative effort
will produce achievement.

^4

'

MONEY AND MIND

People are under the impression

that one has made headway in life
if he wins a lottery ticket
or comes into money.
It is improvement of one's mind
that matters.

*
HAPPINESS

Happiness does not come from

beings well-to-do.
It comes only from reduced
passion, greed and anger.

. \

CONCEIT

In this world,

people who do what they like

with impunity
think they are really great.

r
WORK AND TIME

If one has no respect

for work and time,

one cannot solve a domestic problem,

nor can he fight a battle with success.

Time is an important factor
for people of all classes.

Tf
ENJOYMENT OF PLEASURES

Enjoyment of pleasures

is for attaining happiness,

but happiness resulting
from mental stability
is the most important.

INDUSTRY AND ECONOMY

People want to be well off.

If we say they must be
industrious and economical,

they don't work hard

or control their desires.

The same thing happens

in health and education.

IF THERE WERE NO CULTURE

If there were no religious culture,

there would be no regard for gratitude;
than the human world

would certainly perish.

A GRAMOPHONE RECORD

Preaching the Dhanama for others

to practise without practising it
by oneself is like

playing a gramophone record.

^7
GOOD CONDUCT

The one who conducts himself

according to the Buddha's teachings

has became a good and noble man
and attained happiness in this
existence, and will be able to leave this
existence with no fear because he has
committed no sin.

ft

"

LONG

JOURNEY

Samsara is the physical

and moral journey to nibbana.
It is a long journey.
If you take a long-term view,

you will find the events that often

crop up in life to be nothing strange.

It is important to have the wisdom

of going on the journey steadily.

Don't look to the transient events of

just one existence.

Look to the destination of journey

nibbana.

'1
-1

MAINTAINING PRESTIGE

It is not important to gain prestige.

Maintaining the prestige already gained

is more important.

Prestige is gained by right conduct,

but sometimes it is gained
by wrong means.

r /

NO REAL PROGRESS

Today's world is progressing very much

There are big buildings,
various kinds of vehicles.

But there is no peace of mind;

the mind is heated with

anxiety and misery.

You shouldn't accept that kind of progress.

CHILDREN

Children are treasures.

Sons and daughters are born

to adorn the world.

They could do a great service to the

entire world and also to the
Buddha's Sasana.

i:
PARENTS' LOVE OF CHILDREN

However much parents are said

to love their children,

they do not really love them

if they do not give them education.
They don't love them if they don't look
after their children's health.

HELPERS ON JOURNEY

In one's existence,

one cannot just travel alone.

In samsara,

one cannot just be good alone.

Don't talk of others, [just look at] our
bodhisatta. Because he nnet Devadatta,

he was murdered in his past lives as

Khantivadi Hermit and Prince

Dhammapala.
So, it is imperative to have a good
environment. But if there is

antagonism around, one must not

retaliate. Although others may be bad,

one must try to be good.

\
A*

'

"

w ^

^ ypMY

BELIEF

My personal belief is that

if I receive one kyat,

I must give them two kyats'

worth of service.

COMPETITION

Competition is harmful in all spheres.

The world could be ruined by
competition.

HEARING

THE

END

You are gradually approaching the end

of this life and a transfer to the next

existence. It is better to have high

morality than charity for the next life.

If you have much store of morality
you can be happy in your next life

>

even if you are careful to keep

moral precepts. It would be better if
you could observe ajivatthamaka sila,
as observed by people of high morality.

WHAT

OUGHT

I TO

BE?

What ought I to be? I ought to be a

person for whom others should have a
high esteem. You can bluff others. You
can't bluff yourself. One should try to
deserve one's own esteem.

TEACHER AND PUPIL

A teacher must be able to gauge the

ability of his pupils. Some of them are
more intelligent than the teacher.
However, there will be confusion if the
teacher is not efficient.

CHARACTER BUILDING

Character building should start early

in life, from childhood.

You can't learn to build good character

when you are advanced in age.
It's not easy. People like cinemas.

So, Myanmar children are more like

rk

half-breeds than full-blooded Myanmar.

/i'
GOOD BEHAVIOUR

First, you must be well-behaved.

Then only can you make others

well-behaved.

TEACHER AND MORALITY

The teacher must have high moral

principles, or he would not be able to

give admonition to his pupils.
If the teacher is of low morality
he will never be able to guide and
instruct his pupil.

NOT BY MERE PRAYERS

You cannot get potentials for

moral purity merely by praying.

You can get it if you practise
without praying.

IP-1

ENTHUSIASM

You must practise the Dhamma

with enthusiasm.

If you are listless,

the practise will be boring.
You cannot achieve your goal unless
you are enthusiastic and active.

YOUR SELF-LOVE

Loving yourself best will not do.

You must do as many
meritorious deeds

as possible.
Otherwise your love for yourself
would lead you to ruin.

SIN

AND MISERY

If people have much sin,

they will be afflicted with diseases
and short-lived.

They will be miserable.

JEALOUSY

In this world the stupid person

envies the clever one;

the inferior man is jealous

of the man in superior position.
Such attitudes emanates from malice.

J
THE JOURNEY IS LONG

The journey is long;

Travellers are fools;

The food gone rotten;

Companions are bad.

Leads one to Hell,

Where once there, escape is difficult.

Explanation:
Samsara (cycle of existences) is a long journey and
those taking the road are foolish. The food that they
carry for the journey, such as, pride, prestige, charity,
morality and contemplation, will have gone rotten.
Their constant companion is Tanha (passion), so when
they go down to Hell, the chances of redemption are
remote since tanha cannot be eradicated.

EARN

MERIT

Merit cannot be obtained

without really trying.

You must do good work to earn it.
The confidence (in the good) that is

fr

with you now must be used,

so that new confidence

will be developed.

7;
The diligence that you are using
at present will intensify the diligence
you will have in the future.

LIMITED

GREED

Greed should be allowed within limits.

One can be allowed to have desire

for one's food, clothing and shelter,

but if the desire exceeds
the reasonable limit,
it cannot be curbed.

/
.

PURE MIND, MORE KNOWLEDGE

If the ear is clean you will hear

more and better.

If the eye is clear you will see

more and better.

If your mind is pure

you will gain more knowledge.

CHARITY AND

DESIRES

In giving charity if you hanker

for popularity, prestige and desire
to get to the realm of celestials
in your next existence,
then all these desires are

Lohha (greed).

WE, THE MYANMAR

We, the Myanmar offer alms food

on birthdays, and when one dies,
his relatives offer alms food on behalf

of the deceased. That's just fine!

We, the Myanmar are all right:
They have done well.

-sJ

CONTENTMENT

The Buddha has said that contentment

is the noblest act.
m

In the olden days people lived on

frugal meals, wore home-woven clothes,

and they were happy and contented.
Happiness does not result from wealth,
only from contentment.

HAPPINESS

Happiness consists of joy,

satisfaction and delight.

FOR THE

GOOD

OF

OTHERS

A noble and pure person is one

who sacrifices his interest

for the good of others.

He has to reduce

his desires and ill-will.

>

DON'T BLAME OTHERS

Don't Speak ill of others

in their absence;
don't condemn them

in their presence;
don't be hasty to blame them.

MAINTAIN

MORAL

PRECEPTS

The female quail risks her life

to guard her eggs,
the mythical samari bird guards
its feathers with its life;

We the Buddhist monks,

should maintain our moral precepts

at the risk of our lives.

PATCH

UP YOUR OWN

BOAT

If you can patch up

another's boat,

and cannot patch your own,

you will be drowned
in mid-stream.

REGRETTABLE

THING

People make an earning

with a view to living a happy
and comfortable life.

If making an earning makes for

physical and mental misery,
the purpose of earning will not be
achieved.

t..

People should seek a pursuit which

makes for less physical discomfort
and more happiness.
If earning a living in this existence
results in the next existence in Hell,

it will be a regrettable thing.

GIVE

EDUCATION

Buddhist monks shouldn't be only on

the side of taking; they should also be

giving. What are they to give? They are

to give education to children, preach the
Dhamma to the laity and contribute their
efforts to the welfare of the country.

GIVING

POT OF GOLD

The person who admonishes you

by pointing out your faults and defects
is like the person who gives
a pot of gold.

LIFE IS MOVING

Life is not stationary;

it is always moving.

We are all going on a journey.

So we should know

where we come from and

where we are going.

SCIENTIFIC

PROGRESS

Scientific progress offers

a good life materially but it fails to
develop good morality,
and so people are unhappy.
The Buddha's teachings alone can
afford means for true happiness.

Eventually,
the progress of science leads to ruin.

r/

ATTRIBUTES

OF THE

BUDDHA

Contemplation of the attributes

of the Buddha will make the devotee

powerful intellectually developed and

influential. So you should contemplate
the attributes of the Buddha and

visualise as if the Buddha is still living.

DISSEMINATE METTA

Disseminate metta (loving-kindness)

to all beings while adoring the Buddha.
The person who does that will have a
better kamma (destiny).
So always disseminate metta.

MORAL PURITY

If you are morally pure,

you will be mentally pure.
You will then experience a subtle joy,

which will develop into a mature joy,

and thus you will have true happiness:

physical well-being and mental stability.

MORE REWARDING

Alms-giving (Dana) entails

spending of money.
Sila (moral precept)
doesn't need money,
but it is more rewarding.
m

r-.

MISERY AND MORAL PURITY

Misery is always the result of passion

and desire (lobha). More lobha, more

misery; less lobha, less misery. Those

who have attained perfect moral purity

{arahanta) do not have lobha in the

least, and so they are free from misery.

1
FISH ON

HOOK

Don't be obsessed

by anything sensual.
If you are,

you will suffer like a fish

caught by the angler's hook.

r
DON'T JUST RELY ON KAMMA

People think that whatever happens is

due to kamma despite the Buddha's
doctrine that encourages rectification
through intelligence and effort. If people
just blame kamma, the Sasana as well

as their race will be adversely affected.

MEAN

PRIDE

The fox is growling proudly

over the left-over food of the lion
So also the one who is enamoured
of the successive rebirths

is obsessed by the bribes

people leave for him.

I..

It is not fitting for the

ordinary man
to gloat over what
the morally pure man has discarded.

1
METTA

Metta must be disseminated

at all times,

while you are sitting, walking or lying.

Disseminate metta at all times

except, of course, while asleep.

'0

MARCH STRAIGHT

The leading bull must march straight,

or the following cattle

will fall victim to the tiger.

If the leading monk (abbot) goes up
the loft, the novice will get on the roof
of the monastery.

 M
FISH ON

HOOK

One who is obsessed

with a certain sensual pleasure

is like a fish on the angler's hook.

MAN'S WORLD

I don't want an existence in the

celestial region. There 1 won't have

much chance to do meritorious deeds.

Here, in man's world, we can do

meritorious deeds and serve others
interests. Man's world is much better.

IF THE

SUN

DID

NOT APPEAR

If the sun did not appear

upon the earth,
the people of the world
would be groping in the dark,
and some would fall off the cliff.

If the Buddha did not appear,

there would be no knowledge
of the Dhamma,

and people would fall

into the chasm of Hell.

It is because the Buddha appeared,

there prevailed wisdom to know

hell from nibbana, celestial regions and

so on. Otherwise, there would be

profound ignorance.

FIRE OF IMMORALITY.

Forest fire burn dry leaves

more easily then wet leaves.
The fire of immorality burns the man
who has no metta more easily
than the man who has metta

saturated in his mind.

If you have a weapon

to defend yourself,
no tiger will bite you.

If you don't have a weapon,

even a cow will gore you.

So depend on weapons.
The most effective is metta.

BENEFICIAL

Sila (morality) confers happiness

not only here and now but also
in the hereafter.

Loving-kindness, Compassion,
Truth and Perseverance,
too are beneficial.

PRODDING TO GRAVE

Just as the cowherd drives the cattle

to the grazing ground by prodding

them with a stick,

so also old age, disease and death is

always prodding people to the grave.

, ir'

NO HEED FOR DOG'S BARK

While fleeing from a chasing tiger,

don't heed the dog's barking.

"4

UNAFFECTED

The ocean cannot be burned by fire.

The *Myinmo mountain will not be
shaken by the wind. The rock cannot

be melted by water. So also the morally

pure person will not be affected by the
misdeed of an evil minded person.
*MyinmoMem

WARNING TO MONKS

You, monksl If you have the ability to

teach, and if you are weak in morality,

you will be like the tree which cannot

bear sweet fruit. If you are good in

preaching but cannot properly keep the

precepts, you will be like flowers with
no fragrance.

PROGRESS AND RETROGRESSION

With good behaviour,

a good mind, and a good education,

I will make headway in life.
Otherwise, 1will get into the rut.

BIRTH PAY; AN INDICATION

Birth day anniversary is an

indication of your age.
You must warn yourself, saying:
"I am one year nearer to death."
Those of my age and those
younger and older than I am,
have been dead.

,r

As nothing is permanent,
I am getting nearer death.
Before I die I will try to reinforce
my potential for future goodness.

p
STRIVING TO GLORIFY THE SASANA

I am not working so hard

to run this big monastery
for my
own selfish prosperity.
I am striving to glorify the
whole Buddha Sasana.

Justfor my own well-being

I'm not striving so hard.

Rather, so that the glory

of the Buddha Sasana

receivedfrom ourforefathers
will not wiltfurther
do I proudly persevere.
May the Sasana continue to prevail...

Truth is the opposite of falsehood.

In the present time truth is weak.
Even in the Five Precepts,

avoiding lies has been featured.

The person who has sila (morality)
can get the rewards he wishes to have

If you don't have good morality,

you will either go to Hell or become
an animal in your next existence.
Even if you are
reborn as a human being,
you would be a poor; stupid one.

PROSPERITY

FROM GOOD

INTENT

Prosperity resulting from good intent

and meritorious deeds

will prevail not only at present

but also in the future

till you attain the state of

perfect moral purity {nibbana).

r\

Merit leads to gradual attainment

of happiness.
Those who are after material prosperity
do not know that.

They should try to understand it.

[T

HAPPINESS THAT OUGHT TO BE

REJECTED

Of the two kinds of happiness,

mental happiness is better
than physical happiness.
The mental happiness
that is accompanied by lobha

[attachment ranging from subtle liking

r
to gross lust] is always followed by
suffering sooner or later.
So, such happiness of the majority
is not real happiness.
It is the cause of suffering,
only a mass of suffering.

WHAT WILL you

DO?

I don't want to be alive

without doing any work.

I will be serving the interests
of the country
and the Buddha's Sasana

(Sphere of teachings)
as long as I am alive.

Everyone is trying not to die.

What will you do if you don't die?

Having a large following,
fame and luxury does not defer death.
Prosperity and misery of all kinds
are perishable.

You must add to your life potentials

(Parami) for better future.

BE A TRULY HOLY PERSON

(Monks), if you use the requisites

offered by others and just behave like

an average gentleman, your

responsibility is not quite fulfilled.

May the Buddha Sasana (Teachings) contribute to

the welfareand well-being of the people of the
world.

May the people, following the teachings of the

Buddha, enjoy physical well-being and mental
happiness.
Compiler: Venerable U Kusala (Nyaung-Yann)
Shwemotthaw Monastery
Bazaar Quarter, Nyaung-Yann
(Mandalay Division)

DONORS
1000copiesof this publication
are kindly donated by
Tun Thein, f^ilar and Amj Thein

Man's Precept

Everyone in the world wishes to be happy

and prosperous.

And do not try to obtain profits

from others' misery.

Don't do anything that may cause

unhappiness in many people.

Tf a sacrifice is called for,

you should ol'fer it.

^Hiat's man's precept of good conduct.

AshinJanakahhhmma (1900-1977)
Sukhi Hotu Ohamma Publication